More than 130 treasured gold and bronze artefacts looted from Ghana between the 1870s and early 20th century have officially been returned to the country. The symbolic handover took place on Sunday at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, where the items were presented to Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The artefacts which include royal regalia, ceremonial drums, and gold weights are between 45 and 160 years old. Each piece reflects the Asante Kingdom’s governance structures, cultural heritage, and the spiritual significance of gold within its society.
In his remarks, King Osei Tutu II expressed gratitude to AngloGold Ashanti, a South African mining company, for facilitating the return of several artefacts that had been purchased on the open market.
Other pieces were repatriated from the Barbier-Muller Museum in Geneva, originally collected by Josef Muller in 1904, while additional donations came from British art historian Hermione Waterfield, who founded the Tribal Art Department at Christie’s in 1971.
Among the returned items is a wooden drum believed to have been taken during the 1900 siege of Kumasi by British colonial troops a powerful reminder of Ghana’s colonial past and resilience.
The Asante Kingdom, which flourished from the late 17th century until its annexation by Britain in 1901, remains one of Africa’s most influential pre-colonial states. The return of these artefacts marks a significant step in restoring Ghana’s cultural heritage and honoring the legacy of the Asante people.
